View Location 
April 19, 2023Your choices on the road matter. If you’re careless at the wheel, you could endanger yourself and others.
You likely already know this. As such, you probably obey traffic laws and strive to remain fully aware of what’s happening around you when driving.
That doesn’t mean you can’t take additional steps to boost your safety and the safety of your fellow motorists. By following these defensive driving suggestions, you’ll potentially guard against serious Car accident:
Keep Your Distance
Many collisions occur because drivers fail to maintain a safe distance between themselves and other vehicles. Generally, it’s wise to maintain three seconds of distance between yourself and another driver on the road.
This is fairly easy. Just choose a landmark up ahead, such as a highway sign. Start counting after the vehicle ahead of you reaches the landmark. At least three seconds should pass before you reach the same spot the other driver was at when you began counting.
Keep in mind that three seconds is the bare minimum. You should consider maintaining even more space between your vehicle and others, particularly in poor weather conditions.
Don’t Merely Follow the Speed Limit
You don’t always need to travel at the maximum legal speed on a road. Just because you technically can drive 50 miles per hour, that doesn’t mean you should.
Defensive driving often involves making adjustments based on factors such as weather conditions and road conditions. If it’s raining heavily, if fog is obstructing your view, or if a road is in poor shape, you may drive slower than you usually would.
Don’t Be Distracted
Accidents resulting from distracted driving are becoming increasingly common. This is almost certainly due to the rise of smartphones.
It’s wise to turn your phone off when driving. If you can’t justify doing so, at least strongly consider using an app that prevents your phone from sending you alerts while you’re on the road.
You must also be aware that your phone isn’t the only potential distraction that could prevent you from focusing. Other ways to avoid being involved in accidents resulting from distracted driving include:
- Choosing one radio station and sticking with it instead of constantly adjusting the dial
- Not participating in distracting conversations while driving
- Never eating or consuming beverages at the wheel
When Others Cause Accidents
These are all decisions you can make to limit your chances of being involved in an accident. That said, you must remember that you can only control your own choices. You can’t force others to be responsible and cautious drivers.
As such, you may be harmed in an accident because someone else is negligent. In Washington State, an at-fault state, you can file a claim with the negligent driver’s car insurance company if this happens.
Strongly consider enlisting the help of an attorney when doing so. Snohomish County Injury Attorney Kelby Derenick is prepared to help you seek the compensation for which you may be eligible. To learn more, contact us online or at (360) 965-8251.
